Having just relocated from Utah, the mecca of modest clothing companies, I was surprised to hear that DownEast Basics had a store in SouthCenter Mall in Seattle. Recently several bloggers got together for an evening at DownEast Basics to check out their store.

Here we are with our goodie bags!

In the past, I’ve had a hard time finding the right size at DownEast — I was always in between sizes and it never fit quite right. This time around, I was pleased to find that things fit me much better. Lyndsey and I agree that their real strength is their skirts which are playful and cute. Here were some of my favorite pieces in their store.

It was fun to see all the Utah connections with the gals at the store as well as some of the bloggers like Lyndsey and Alex.

I was won over by a couple pieces and ended up taking home a few fabulous skirts with me, both of which ended up my my recent Valentines Wear One Piece Five Ways segment — the teal ruffle skirt (#1) and the sequin skirt (#3) that was featured on Oprah!

Summer 2011 is just around the corner which means it’s time to suit up and find a swimsuit you love. So many of the suits in today’s marketplace leave little to the imagination, so if you prefer something with a little more coverage, look no further. We’ve compiled a great list of modest swimwear for summer 2011.

In Style Swimwear Goddess Maillot Suit $134

I’m all over this vintage style suit with lots of coverage through the thighs and a bandeau top. The black is slimming and the side ruching will help confuse the eye if you have a little tummy.

Shabby Apple Venizia Swimsuit $82

The Shabby Apple Venizia swimsuit is the one that has me swooning this season! The sporty stripes and black sash are decidedly European for a total sophisticate feel.

Rey Swimwear Ann in Seaspray $80

Rey Swimwear is a collection of suits inspired by Audrey Hepburn by actress Jessica Rey. Everything has a decidedly vintage feel.

Pearl Swimwear - Dash of Sass $90

The sophisticated and minimalistic Dash of Sass suit by Pearl Swimwear is cut low in the back so you can show off your suave back.

Shabby Apple Isola Tankini $54

Shabby Apple has a gorgeous new line of swimsuits for 2011 inspired by the Italian Amalfi Coast with fun and flirty feminine lines like the Isola tankini. It also comes in black and a luscious coral in the Pomodoro! Bottoms are sold separately.

What will you be wearing poolside this summer?

Copyright 2011 Cable Car Couture. All Rights Reserved.

We introduced you to Rey Swimwear last week as another fabulous modest swimwear retailer. Their catchy slogan is “Who says it has to be itsy bitsy?” Rey Swimwear is having a swimsuit giveaway for their Jo Swimsuit in Ebony. It’s easy to enter, just follow them on Twitter @reyswimwear!

Here’s a sneak peek at the Jo Swimsuit that could be yours!

Rey Swimwear Giveaway!

Contest ends September 1st, 2009.

Copyright 2009 Cable Car Couture. All Rights Reserved.

Modest swimsuits made headlines today as a Muslim woman was denied entry to a public pool in France because she was wearing a head-to-toe swimsuit, also referred to as a “burqini”. The 35-year-old woman had swam previously at this pool in July wearing the same suit.

Officials say the outfit is unhygienic and potentially harmful to other swimmers.

The woman, a convert to Islam, has complained to police that the ban is discriminatory.Source Vosizneias.com

In 2003, the burqini was designed by Australian woman Aheda Zinetti so that Muslin women could swim and still maintain their modesty.

Is it fair that the 35-year-old woman was banned for her choice of swimsuit?

What are your thoughts?

Copyright 2009 Cable Car Couture. All Rights Reserved.

In a day where it’s incredibly difficult to find modest swimsuits for teens, thankfully there are many swimsuit companies who have answered the siren call to create lovely, modest swimsuits for teens. After seeing these fabulous modest swimsuits, what teen will want to sport a two-piece this summer?

Hipari

Modest Swimsuits for Teens: Hapari's GNO Butterfly Tankini $48

Hipari’s GNO “Girl’s Night Out” Butterfly Tankini has summer written all over it with its colorful tropical flower design. Bottoms sold separately.

Also from Rey Swimwear, the Eliza in Nile Blue tankini provides lots of coverage and also has the flattering ruching on the sides for a slimming effect.

Lime Ricki

Modest Swimsuits for Teens: Lime Rick's Gabby Tankini $35

The Gabby Tankini from Lime Ricki is perfect for the girl that loves pink. Plus, a portion of each sale of this modest swimsuit will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to combat breast cancer. Bottoms sold separately.

Modest Swimsuits for Teens: Lime Ricki's Ava One-Piece $50

Lime Ricki’s one-piece modest Ava swimsuit is fabulous! This bandeau swimsuit is sure to flatter with its ruching along the sides. As discussed in previous posts, ruching along the sides will confuse the eye and make one’s waist appear smaller. Who wouldn’t love that?

Layers Clothing

Modest Swimsuits for Teens: Layer's Darla in Blue $42 top, $26 bottom

Meet the newest arrival to Layer’s Clothing’s swimsuit collection, the darling Darla! This fun ruffle suit also comes in pink.

Modest Swimsuits for Teens: Layer's Jemma $42 top, $26 bottom

This colorful Jemma has a taste of Hawaii with its swaying red palm trees and smocking detail at the top!

Aren’t these fabulous suits! See? Whoever said modest had to be boring!

There’s still time to pick up your favorite Mod Bod swimsuit before the summer is up! You can purchase them online at www.themodbod.com or at Blend Fashions in Pleasant Grove, Utah at 285 E. State Road.

Copyright 2009 Cable Car Couture. All Rights Reserved.

This is THE WEEK for sales! Shade Clothing, one of Utah’s most renown modest clothing companies, is having an awesome sale with prices up to 75% off! They have some great discounts on some beautiful pieces and in case you haven’t stepped foot inside Shade Clothing for a while, we’ll bring the best to you.

This cardigan was featured in Good Housekeeping July 2009 and is on sale for $9.99 (available in white and maroon)!

Shade Clothing V-Neck Cardigan $9.99

And this gorgeous tulip skirt $14.99 (originally $36.50 — what a discount, baby!). It fit like a glove and found its way home with me

Shade Clothing White Tulip Skirt $14.99

This shirred band skirt is versatile enough to be worn as a skirt or a beach cover-up is on sale for $19.99! This A-line cut skirt is perfect piece to hide thighs.

Shade Clothing Shirred Band Skirt $19.99

Shade Clothing Shirred Band Skirt $19.99

Shade Clothing is awesome for timeless, classic pieces. Last summer, I picked up these versatile V-necks with a cute peekaboo on the back and I have gotten a ton of wear from them?

Copyright 2009 Cable Car Couture. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever had a hard time finding a modest swimsuit that covered your midriff and still looked fabulous? Good, I’m not the only one! If you’re unsatisfied with your swimsuit collection and want something new and flattering to walk down the beach in, you’re in luck!

The Mod Bod has generously donated a swimsuit for one lucky Cable Car Couture reader! Will it be YOU?!

The Mod Bod is modest clothing company that was established in 2004 by Shellie Slade who was tired of having to hunt high and low for modest clothes for her daughters. This year they launched their Swim line that has been incredibly popular!

Aubrey Swimsuit from The Mod Bod

My favorite piece from their Swim collection is the Aubrey (pictured above) with ravishing ruffles that hide a tummy — fashionably!

The Marjorie Swimsuit with Swim Skirt

All the suits in the Mod Bod Swim line are modest two pieces and interchangable with options like retro boy shorts and swim skirts for the gal that wants to keep covered poolside.

Even pregnant women are in luck with the Mod Bod Swim Collection! Their swimsuits can accomodate a growing tummy.

To enter the contest is easy.

Simply visit The Mod Bod website and leave a comment on our blog, telling us what your favorite piece is from the Swim Collection!

For an extra entry, subscribe to Cable Car Couture’s Email Newsletter in the top right hand corner — you’ll get notifications about amazing giveaways like this one!

For an extra entry, Tweet about The Mod Bod Swimsuit Giveaway Contest on Twitter! Be sure to leave the URL in the comment.
Example: “Enter to Win a FREE Mod Bod Swimsuit from @cablecarcouture! Contest ends 7/31/09. http://bit.ly/hoQug Pls RT!”

Copyright 2009 Cable Car Couture. All Rights Reserved.

Today I am celebrating my (second) 25th birthday! I’m sure you have a list of fabulous things you’ve had your eye on for a while and have put on the back burner for another day. If I were to splurge, these are the things on my list…

If I Were to Splurge Item #1: PRVCY Jeans

If I were to splurge, PRVCY Jeans is where I would start! During the fun photo shoot I did with Blend Fashions, The Mod Bod and Undertease, I got to wear these fabulous PRVCY Jeans. They are SO flattering, soft and comfortable. Blend Fashions in Pleasant Grove, UT are the only places in the entire state that carry them!

If I Were to Splurge Item #2: A New Handbag

Botkier Large Satchel Handbag

Isn’t this lambskin handbag just perfect? Found it on www.bagborroworsteal.com where you can rent designer handbags weekly/monthly, etc. This purse is fun but this next purse is fierce!

Isabella Fiore 'Let Go My Deco' Celine Satchel Handbag

This is a girl power purse if I’ve ever seen one! Also from Bag, Borrow or Steal, if I were to splurge, this would be a great choice!

If I Were to Splurge Item #3: Pearl Swimwear

Pearl Swimwear Retro Funk Sand

Pearl Swimwear has quite possibly the sexiest one-piece swimsuits EVER. Who ever said that one-piece bathing suits have to be unflattering and unbecoming? Gorgeous!

Of course, if i were to really splurge, my list would include a kitten, toy poodle, one-way airfare to Spain and an Audi A4. It’s a good thing we’re not getting carried away…